Urgent Help needed - My German Shepherd dog has a serious hair loss problem

Question
Hi Karen,

I own a short haired female German shepherd. She is around 15 months old. Of late, she has lost a lot of hair on the sides of her hind legs . When you try to brush that area, tufts of fur hair get pulled out very easily. That is the only problem she is facing. Apart from that, she is very active and does not have any other health problem. Can you please tell me what could be worng with her?

Thanks,
Ajeeth

Answer
German shepherds shed worse than just about any breed! (I used to own one.) If they are housedogs, they will shed year-round, rather than cyclical, which is usually dependent on the day length.

If you live south of the equator, it is probably just her normal spring/summer shed-out. Bitches, however, will also shed in hormonal cycles if they are not spayed, and if they have puppies (or a strong false pregnancy), they will blow everything and look quite naked.

If none of these are the case, then she might have a thyroid problem which would need to be checked by your veterinarian.